Combined step-ladder and window-chair.



M. RYDER.

COMBINED STEP LADDER AND WINDOW 0H AIR.

APPLICATION FILED JUNE 7, 1909.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

Patented Mar. 22

ATTOR/VE Y8 masw a. GRAHAM co mum umomu M. RYDER.

COMBINED STEP LADDER AND WINDOW CHAIR.

Patented Mar. 22, 1910.

APPLIOATIQN FILED JUNE 7, 1909.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

{I 1T S A S AEEN '1 t Finn. I

MALCOLM RYDER, OF NEW YORK, N. Y.

COMBINED STEP-LADDER AND WINDOW-CHAIR.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed June 7, 1909.

T all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, MALCOLM RYDER, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of New York, county and State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Combined Step-Ladders and VVindow-Chairs, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description.

This invention relates more particularly to a device adapted for use as a step-ladder or as a chair or platform while washing windows.

The primary object of the invention is to provide a simple and efficient device which may be readily made to adapt the same as a step-ladder, and which may be folded so as to be properly held and supported to have a part thereof project outside of the window to adapt the device to serve as a seat or chair for a personwhile washing the window, and to so construct the device that it will be positively locked and held to the window frame so that it cannot tilt or become detached therefrom by accident, thus overcoming the objections incident to the ordinary methods employed for washing windows which often result in loss of life.

Another object of the invention is to provide simple and eflicient means whereby the device may have a substantial support for a person outside of the window either as a chair or a platform, and which may be adjusted to fit windows of different widths in which the parts of the window frame and wall differ in thickness.

A further object of the invention is to provide simple means for supporting a re ceptacle containing water or other means employed for washing windows.

A still further object of the invention is to provide simple and efficient means whereby the device may be readily changed from a step-ladder to a window chair or vice versa.

With these and other objects in view, the invention will be hereinafter more particularly described with reference to the accompanying drawings, which form a part of this specification, and will then be pointed out in the claims at the end of the description.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a perspective View of one form of device embodying my invention. Fig. 2 is a perspective view of the device when applied as a window chair. Fig. 8 is a vertical section of the device i I a when used as a step-ladder. Fig. 4 is a longitudinal section of the device when applied as a window chair; and Fig. 5 is a fragmentary view showing a somewhat different means for making the device adjustable.

The device has two legs or supporting members and 11, and to the member ,10 is held the step or top member 12. The members 10 and 11 are pivotally held to the member 12, as by hinges 13, and said member 11 may comprise two legs or parts 14:

To adapt the device so that the same may be used as a window chair in order that a suitable platform may be provided for a person to wash windows and for other purposes, I arrange as a part of the device, a member 18. This member 18 may be variously constructed. As shown, it comprises two side pieces or parts 19 and 20, which are connected together by a transverselyextending bar 21. The member 18 is pivotally held to the member 11, as at 22, so as to swing to the position shown in Fig. 8 when the device is used as a step-ladder, and to that shown in Fig. 4 when used as a win dow chair or similar device, for in-the latter case the said member 18 serves as a backing or rest for the back, and the board or part 17 serves as a seat or platform for the person, and each side piece or part 19 and 20 may be provided with a strengthening .and locking member 23 which has one end beveled, as at 24, Fig. 1, so that the same may rest upon one edge of the member 11 when in the position shown in Figs. 2 and 4. The leg or supporting members 10 and 11, when the device is used as a chair, are moved to a closed position in order that the same may extend horizontally and rest upon the window frame 25, the latter being constructed in the usual way and having the sill 26 of the usual or of any preferred construction. The windows, when the device is used as a chair, must be raised, and to rigidly and properly hold the device to the window frame or support so as to extend on the outside thereof, the member 11, at its lower end, is provided with cleats or brackets 27 which are securely held to the outer ends of the leg members and project far enough to provide a space 28 in which is held a transversely-extending metallic bar 29. This bar 29 forms a guide, and held to said bar are the members or devices 30 each of which is provided with brackets 31 at one end thereof which fit about the bar 29 to slide thereon, and at the outer end of said bars or devices 30 are engaging portions 32 which are adapted to rise against the inner edge of the window frame or other support, and on the end of said engaging part 32 may be a rubber or other element 33 in the form of a sleeve to prevent injuring the wall or window frame when engaged thereby. The

fastening means thus described, permits the device to be adapted to windows of different widths and also permits the device to be readily attached to the window or detached therefrom, and prevents the same from accidental disengagement from the window frame or support.

A block 34 may be located on one side of each part 14 of the member 11, and these blocks may be held to links 35 which may be adjusted on the pivoting point 22 by means of the thumb nuts 36. Each block 34 is provided with a slot 37, and engaging this slot is a bolt 38 on which is a thumb nut 39 by which the block may be adjusted to fit the outer edge of the window frame and to rest upon the sill 26 as shown best in Fig. 4. The blocks 34, together with the engaging portions 33, serve to rigidly hold the device properly supported over the window sill so that a person may use the part 17 as a seat or platform, and by having the devices 30 of the fastening means adjustable and the blocks 34 also adjustable, the chair is adapted for different sizes of windows, and in addition to the engaging members 33, the transversely-extending bar 15 of the member 11 may be positioned to engage one side of the window frame 25 though this is 'unnecessary in practice.

It is desirable to provide suitable means for supporting a basin, receptacle or other means convenient for use, and for this purpose I provide a sleeve 40 on either or both sides of-the device and hold said sleeve to a bar 41 secured to the step or part 12, and fitting said sleeve is one end, as 42, of a hanger member 43. This member 43 may be of any suitable construction and may have a circular end 44 in which is adapted to rest a basin or other receptacle to be used in cleaning windows or for other purposes.

Instead of the adjustable block 34 for holding the device to different sizes of windows, the said blocks may be made rigid and the lengthwise adjustment may be secured as shown in Fig. 5. Here the parts 14 of the member 11 are provided at their ends with slots 45 through which extend bolts 46 each having a thumb or other nut 47 on one end thereof, and said bolts pass through slots 48 in an extension or part 49 of the member 14. These parts 49 carry the engaging devices 30 for the inner part of the frame or support, and by having the said extensions or parts 49, the member 11 may be extended to suit difierent windows, while the devices 30 may be extended laterally or transversely to fit different widths of windows.

From the foregoing it will be seen that a simple and efficient device is provided which is adapted either as a step-ladder or as a window chair; that said device is simple in construction and may be readily changed to adapt it for either of the purposes referred to; that simple means is provided whereby the device may be quickly and easily adjusted to different sizes of windows; that said device forms a substantial support and is positively locked and held so that a person is not likely to fall while cleaning a window; and that simple means are provided for supporting a receptacle or other means used for cleaning windows or other pur poses.

Having thus described my invention, I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent 1. A combined step ladder and windowchair, comprising supporting legs pivotally secured to a top member adapted to serve as a back rest, parallel boards pivotally secured to the rear legs, a member connecting the front legs and adapted to serve as a seat, and adjustable means carried by the rear legs for supporting the device upon the inside of a wall.

2. A combined step ladder and window chair, comprising supporting legs, pivotally secured to a top member adapted to serve as a back rest, parallel boards pivotally secured to the roar legs, a member connecting the front legs and adapted to serve as a seat, longitudinally adjustable bars connected to the lower ends of the rear legs for supporting the device upon the inside of a window frame, and means connected to the pivots of said parallel boards for bracing the device against the outer portion of a window frame.

3. A combined step ladder and window chair, comprising supporting legs, pivotally secured to a top member adapted to serve as a back rest, parallel boards pivotally secured to the rear legs, a member connecting the front legs and adapted to serve as a seat, longitudinally adjustable bars connected to the lower ends of the rear legs for support ing the device upon the inside of a window frame, and means connected to the pivots of said parallel boards for bracing the device against the outer portion of a Window frame, and comprising adjustable blocks loosely connected to the rear legs.

4. A combined step ladder and Window chair, comprising supporting legs, a top member to Which said legs are pivotally secured parallel boards pivotally secured to the rear legs, a board secured to the front legs, and adapted to serve as a seat, a cross bar connecting said parallel boards, longitudinally adjustable bars carried by the rear legs, and adjustable braces loosely connected to the pivots of said parallel boards.

5. A combined step ladder and Window chair, comprising supporting legs, a top member to which said legs are pivotally secured, parallel boards pivotally secured to the rear legs, a board secured to the front legs and adapted to serve as a seat, a cross bar connecting said boards and adapted to form a back rest, beveled strengthening members secured to said parallel boards, longitudinally adjustable bars carried by the rear legs and adjustable blocks and linkconnections between said blocks and the pivots of said parallel boards.

This specification signed and witnessed this 5th day of June A. D. 1909.

MALCOLM RYDER.

Vitnesses NI. F. KEATING, C. BARTELS. 

